We've been here in BC for almost a year now (though Nathan and I went to Pinas for 5 months and 1 week) and I am glad to have found two new friends who became my ka-gimikan and ka-chika the past months.
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| Meet the Stroller Mommas |
I actually met Juris (the girl in white) at Taipei Taoyuan Airport during our flight layover last April. Pabalik na kami ni Nathan sa Canada noon, ganun din sila ng family niya.
Sobrang layo papunta sa gate ng connecting flight namin (may train ride pa) tapos medyo parang scary na yung mga areas na dinadaanan kasi kokonti na ang tao (alanganing oras na rin kasi). The worst part, all the elevators were not working kasi may pending construction yata. Imagine me and my 2-year old son trying to figure out how to go to the next floor without an elevator. Eh me stroller ako at maraming handcarry.
The first two escalators, nalampasan namin. Medyo mababa lang kasi ang escalator, una ko munang inihatid sa taas ang anak ko tapos I instructed him to wait for me kasi bababa ako to get the stroller. No choice eh, walang ibang tao sa paligid (creepy nga eh). Pero at a very young age, my son naman knows na how to follow instructions saka hindi siya magulong bata. Takot din siya sa stairs so hindi siya bababa nang walang kasama. I just made sure na nakikita nya pa rin ako habang bumababa ako para hindi siya magpanic.
Yung last stair ang problematic kasi sobrang taas. Kapag nasa taas na si Nathan, parang hindi na niya ako makikita sa baba. I was worried kaya hindi ko talaga alam ang gagawin ko. Walang katao-tao talaga sa paligid.
Then after a few minutes, dumating si Juris, her Caucasian husband, and two little kids. Juris nicely asked me: "Anong matutulong ko sayo, Ate?" I was so thankful, sabi ko kung pwedeng pakitingnan lang saglit yung anak ko sa taas kapag inakyat ko para makuha ko yung stroller sa baba. They couldn't help me kasi with the stroller dahil ang dami rin nilang dala.
Nagkahiwalay na kami after that and we saw each other again sa may play area malapit sa gate namin (same flight kami). That's when I learned that they are from Langley.
Hindi rin kami gaanong nakapagchika because she was very busy attending to her kids. Nagkita na lang uli kami sa Vancouver airport na while we were waiting from our baggage in the carousel. That's when she asked for my number, ang sabi ko wala na "yata" akong phone number kasi more than 5 months ako sa Pinas, tila pina-disconnect na ng asawa ko kasi nga magbi-BC number na rin naman ako later on. Add nya na lang kako ako sa Facebook.
Since the, we became chatmates na sa FB. Then she invited me to her son's first birthday last June 25. That's where I met Tess, her best friend in high school. Tess is currently on a one year mommy leave from work. She has a 9-month old son and they live in New Westminster.
These two girls are so gala, hindi sila mapakali sa bahay. Juris' husband works on a one-week-work-one-week-off basis (sa mining) so kapag wala ang husband niya, talagang pinapasyal niya ang mga kids nya kung saan-saan. Si Tess naman every Sunday lang off ang husband niya kaya naiinip din at laging umaalis ng bahay. These girls are so madiskarte, kabisado na nila ang pasikot-sikot sa Metro Vancouver haha. Through them, natuto ako mag-bus at mag-train kasama si Nathan.
Lagi nila akong inaaya kapag lalabas sila (to meet with their other friends din) pero madalas hindi ako sumasama kasi nga exhausting for me ang magcommute tapos ang init pa. Saka they normally meet early eh ang late gumising ni Nathan kasi nga late na rin matulog. Alanganin.
Kaya for my birthday, ang sabi ko puntahan na lang nila ako sa 'terrritory' ko -- sa Surrey. No problem daw.
Because they like Sushi and Korean food, I brought them to Il Uk Jo, an eat-all you can Japanese and Korean restaurant na madalas naming kinakainan ni hubby.
I admire this girl kasi ang hirap nang may karag na dalawang toddlers ha. Ang liit ba babae pero very strong.
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| Juris with Zoey and Jack |
I admire Tess naman kasi talagang ang patient niyang mag-alaga ng baby. I don't remember being that hands-on with Nathan haha. Kasi palagi kong kasama si Ford, siya ang in-charge kay Nathan tuwing umaalis kami.
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| Tess with Baby Marco |
We feasted on a lot of food grabe. Busog na busog ako lalo na sa bbque. Oops, ang sugar! I make sure that I eat very little rice/carbs. As in less than a cup lang. So far, ok naman ang blood sugar level. Nakakaya ng gamot lol.
I was so surprised when then handed me their gifts after eating. They didn't have to, parang nahiya naman ako. Pati si Ford binigyan din ni Juris ng gift. I was thankful. At least me na-receive akong gift sa birthday ko haha.
(Note: Ford, until today, is insisting that we buy a gift for me. Parang di siya mapakali. Pero sabi ko wala naman akong gusto saka madami nakong nashopping the past weeks. Saka nag-Victoria trip naman kami kaya gift na rin yun).
After lunch, we proceeded to Guildford Town Centre (the mall across our apartment) so that kids could play at nang makalakad-lakad na rin.
I am happy kasi may constant kids na sa life ni Tantan - sina Baby Marco, Zoey, and Jack.
He's now comfortable being with them. Hindi na siya nahihiya, at home na siya. Gusto nga palagi kaming nakabuntot sa kanila while walking sa mall.
Indeed, I am grateful kasi nga I found good friends na rin dito. By the way, Juris is/was a nurse in Pinas and she's been very helpful sa mga health concerns ko ngayon. Tess is also very supportive. Nakakatuwa talaga. I hope we could be friends forever.
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Eto pala ang gift nila. Haha, the chocolate will definitely go to Pinas kasi nga bawal na sa akin (buti matagal pa ang expiration).
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